Dievturība
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Dievturība is a modern revival of the indigenous Baltic religion practiced by the Latvian peoples before Christianization.
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[edit] History
The faith known as Dievturība started in 1925 and is primarily based on Latvian folklore, old folk songs and mythology. By necessity, modern Dievturība differs from the historical Latvian religion. For example, there is no evidence that the Latvian pagans recognized a trinity of deities; in Dievturība, Dievs, Māra and Laima are a trinity of fate gods and goddesses.
Ernests Brastiņš (1892-1942) was the primary force in the early development of Dievturība. He was an artist, an amateur historian, a folklorist and an archaeologist. He documented many ancient Latvian temples and castles, writing the Index of Mythological Notions of Latvju Dainas.
The catechism of Dievturība is Catechismus Teoforii.
[edit] Beliefs
Dievturiba is essentially a pantheistic religion. Other deities are either aspects of the one god, or other types of non-deified spirits.[citation needed] In Dievturiba, several triumvirates of deities and concepts are recognized.
- Gods of fate, the primary triumvirate
- Goddesses of water
[edit] Soul complex
- Human form
- velis – astral body
- miesa – physical form
- dvēsele – soul
The difference between the dvēsele (soul) and velis (the astral body) is a fine one. The dvēsele is eternal. It comes from Dievs (god) and will return to him after the death of the miesa. The velis stays near the body, gradually melting and disappearing over time similar to the concept of a ghost or the Greek shade. The end of autumn and the start of winter is accepted as the time of remembrance of dead ancestors. In the dark time of autumn people gave food for their dead relatives due to the "dying of nature" or as a thanks gesture for a good harvest during the summer.
[edit] External links
- Dievturi writings – mostly in Latvian, but one article in English
- The Ancient Latvian Religion — DIEVTURĪBA
- Paper on the Fellowship of Baltic Native Religions
